The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-19

noon was already pretty far advanced,
and the month being May, II was mol
very late when the sun finally departed
behind the western hills. Trevor could
no longer sec to paint, but he fingered
on in the studio, gazing dreamily at hi,
picture till 1t was nearly dark.
At last he shook himself back into
reality, and raising some portieres which
divided the studio from the dwelling
room in which he and Barbara usually
snt, he went in, sturck match and
lighted lamp which stood on his own
particular writing table.
II wonder il she will GOMEZ almost
hope she will not. Till this prejudice
of cousin Bab's is overruled / must try
andkeep her from the house. would
not for worlds that she should know
that Bah has taken fancies into her head
about her."
And, half murmuring his thoughts
aloud, he proceeded to answer two or
three business letters which had ar
rived during the day. One Of them
necessitated reference to some old pa.
pers, and, taking key from his pocket,
he unlocked the side drawer of his table
and began to look for the documents he
required
So absorbed was he in his search, or
the subject that caused it, that for the
time Madge Craigie and the trouble
with Cousin Barbara was forgotten.
IL was not till light hand was laid
on his sh builder and ripping laugh
fell on his ear that he looked up from
the open drawer into the sweet face OF
the lady who had bewitched him.
as this what you call meeting me by
the garden gate and bringing me in to tea
with Cousin Bah? Look you, sir, /
have mind to be very angry"
"Not with me tonight, sweet lady. /
have had much to trouble and vex me
"A letter here which gives me endless
worry. Beside, Cousin Bah has gone
to bed-she is not we'll"
"Gone to bed! Oh, then, [ ought
not to have come, suppose"
"Since you are here, however, you
will not go. Let us chat together for
little; later on / will see you home"
And he rolled an easy chair to where
she stood and invited her to sink down
into its softness, for Trevor Lane was
a sybarite in his home. Madge Craigie
obeyed him, and, tossing her straw hat
from her head to the ground, lay back
among soft cushions-her golden, wavy
hair and white skin forming a striking
contrast to their crimson hue.
For moment or two he sat and gazed
at her in mute admiration, till her mer-
ny laugh recalled him to himself.
Zone would think that am picture
"A lovely picture" she said, instead
Of"
$50 you are picture-a lovely pic
ture -the embodiment of my perfect
ideal. Say, Madge, beautiful Madge,
will you be my own, my wife, my very
true, devoted, loving wife,"
She looked into his eyes, still laugh
ing.
Dear me, what an amount of truth
and devotion and tenderness you seem
to require. And pray may | ask how
much you intend to give in return? ?"
my thoughts by day, my dreams by
night everything have shall be yours
if only You will consent. My dearest
Madge, do not keep me in suspense, but
tell me"
stop your raphsodies, foolish, man p!
Believe me, am not worth them. I'll
acknowledge, however, that L am rather
fond OF you, perhaps on account of the
spontaneity there is about you. Hope
it will last, though-there, don't gush
again. l believe you'll try and be true
to me, and"-with more seriousness OF
manner-"I will never be false to you.
He tried to take her in his arms but
she repulsed him gently, bidding HIM
be rational and discuss their future
prospects calmly, and so, for awhile,
they did, no illusion being made to
Cousin Barbara, or the part she was
likely to play in their lives.
On a sudden Madge's eye fell on the
open drawer.
"Wilfrid Lane" she exclaimed point
ing to some papers on which that name
was written. "Wilfrid LaneY is he
relation of yours? How odd I should
never have thought of that before"
"Why? Do You know him?
81 know Wilfrid Lane As we'll as
though he were my own brother"
"How strangel He is my half
brother"
Eyes, he is much older than you are.
When did you see him last?"
IL have not seen him for seven
years"
"Ah Of course; he is always abroad.
But you go abroad sometimes; why not
to see your brother?'
"There have been family differences,
Madge."
"Ohl II will be awkward when we